Detroit Metropolitan airport history

Transcription

DETROIT METROPOLITAN
AIRPORT HISTORY
DETROIT METRO AIRPORT
HISTORY
Construction began on Wayne County
Airport in April 1929 after the county
issued a two million dollar bond to
build an airport.
HISTORY
Wayne County had more than
70 locations to choose from and
decided on one square mile in
Romulus. It was an ideal location
in a rural area with the Wabash
railroad on the North side of the
airport as a reference point for
the pilots. In the 1930s, many
pilots used railroad lines as a
means to locate their position in
reference to where they were
flying.
HISTORY
Charles Proctor was the first
manager of the airport. He had
many responsibilities with the
day to day operations as well as
being in charge of maintenance
of the airport.
HISTORY
The first official landing at Wayne
County Airport was in February,
1930 by Thompson Aeronautical
Corporation, a predecessor of
American Airlines. The first
passenger service began on
September 4, 1930 with Stout
Airlines.
HISTORY
Stout Airlines was owned by
William Stout, who was partnered
with Henry Ford to build airplanes.
Stout believed that passenger
planes were going to be the next
big industrial revolution. Henry
Ford eventually bought out Stout’s
portion of the airplane company.
HISTORY
It was evident that passenger
service was increasing so Wayne
County improved the airport with
a passenger terminal. In 1938,
the Executive Terminal was
erected to accommodate
passengers. This facility would
allow passengers a little comfort
until their plane departed and
serviced as an area to wait for
their transportation to the city.
HISTORY
The State of Michigan wanted a
permanent place for a National
Guard facility to accommodate
planes and leased the southern
part of the airport from Wayne
County in 1930. The 107th
Observation Squadron was
assigned to this facility.
HISTORY
The Michigan Air National
Guard would be assigned
to Romulus until the end of
1971. The 127th Tactical
Recon Squadron would
be transferred to Selfridge
Field.
Courtesy of Selfridge Military Air Museum
HISTORY
By 1941 the United States
Army Air Corp needed
airfields across the United
States to ferry aircraft from
coast to coast. The Army Air
Corp leased Wayne County
Airport from 1941 until 1947.
The airport would be
renamed Romulus Army Air
Field and the 345th Air
Transport Command would
be assigned to the field.
HISTORY
Under the command of the
345th Air Transport Command
was the 3rd Ferrying Squadron
comprised of WAFS (Women
Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron)
and men. There were 107
WAFS assigned to the
Romulus Army Air Field from
January 1943 until the end of
December 1944. These
women ferried trainers,
pursuit and cargo planes.
Texas Woman University Collection
HISTORY
Two of the pursuit planes that the
women ferried were the P-39
Airacobra and the P-63 Kingcobra.
These planes were ferried in from
Buffalo, NY to Great Falls, MT where
men would fly them on to Alaska then
on to the Soviet Union. These planes
were purchased on the Lend-Lease Act
that was enacted by Congress to aid
our Allies during World War II.
Texas Woman University Collection
HISTORY
After World War II the Army Air Force
returned the airport back to Wayne
County in 1947. Michigan National
Guard became the Michigan Air
National Guard and continued to
operate from the south half of the
airport.
HISTORY
The original hangar after World
War II would continue to be used
by private pilots as well as storage
for Stinson Aircraft.
HISTORY
The airport would be renamed
Detroit Wayne Major Airport in
1947. Three new runways would
be built to accommodate larger
aircraft.
HISTORY
In 1947 Wayne County acquired
three square miles of property to
the west and the south of the
airport for expansion.
HISTORY
The new terminal for Detroit Wayne
Major Airport would open in 1952.
HISTORY
International flights out of Detroit
Wayne Major Airport began in
1954 with Pan American Airlines.
In 1956 British Overseas Airlines
Corporation would follow.
HISTORY
Rose Ruby, an employee of Wayne
County in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
HISTORY
As airlines continued to grow
so did the airport. In 1956
Wayne County received more
more funding to expand the
airport and a new terminal
was built around Detroit
Wayne Major Terminal. The
airport would be renamed
Detroit International
Metropolitan Airport in 1958.
HISTORY
British Overseas Airlines Corporation
was the first passenger jetliner in
1958. The plane was the De Haviland
Comet 4.
HISTORY
On the third floor of the soon to
be named L.C. Smith terminal
was a hotel that provided lodging
for pilots and passengers who
did not want to venture from the
airport for short layovers.
HISTORY
In 1958 the mezzanine level held
banquet halls for conferences. On the
departure level car dealerships would
display the newest cars built by the
auto manufacturers.
HISTORY
With the exception of the time the
airport was in control of the Army
Air Forces, there were air shows
from the grand opening until the Air
National Guard left the airport in
1971.
HISTORY
In the early 1960s there were tours of the airport
HISTORY
From 1958 until 1965 there was an
observation deck on top of the B
Concourse. By 1966 the C Concourse
was built with a new observation
deck with coin operated viewers.
HISTORY
In the mid 1960s the airport
saw the expansion of a
Central Services building that
included a new hotel. Also a
second terminal was built
along with a larger parking
structure.
HISTORY
In 1966 the main terminal was
named after one of the
founders of the airport
Leroy C. Smith.
HISTORY
Smith Terminal in the mid 1960s.
HISTORY
Early 1960s color photo of the B
Concourse. American Airlines
had a major presence from 1958
thru the 1960s.
HISTORY
Tail section of a Northwest Boeing 720B
HISTORY
Style of the early 1960s, when flight
attendants were mostly women and
known as stewardesses. In the early
days of passenger service, flight
attendants were nurses to take care of
those who would develop flight
sickness.
HISTORY
TWA 727 in front of the Smith
terminal in the mid 1970s
HISTORY
Lobby of the hotel inside Central Services
Building 1967
HISTORY
Smith Terminal in the 1970s
including the Air Traffic
Control Tower expansion
raising the structure up four
floors.
HISTORY
Berry International Terminal in the 1970s
HISTORY
Berry International Terminal aerial view from the 1970s
HISTORY
Central Service Building which included a hotel 1960s
HISTORY
Davey Terminal 1960s.
HISTORY
Departure level of the Smith Terminal
in the mid 1970s
HISTORY
Smith Terminal 1980s
HISTORY
Aerial view of the parking structure in front
of the Smith Terminal, Central Services
Building and the Davey Terminal 1970s.
HISTORY
Executive Terminal in the 1970s.
HISTORY
We’re always looking for more photos of the airport’s past. If you wish to share your
memories with photos you’ve taken at the airport. Please contact the airport historian
Daniel Mason by phone or email. Phone 734-955-8875 or email [email protected].

Detroit Metropolitan airport history

Transcription

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